America stood still on Sunday when the most-watched sporting event in the world this year took centre stage.

The New England Patriots and New York Giants clashed in Indianapolis in the Super Bowl to win the right to call themselves world champions.

M.E.N. Sport’s Mike Keegan joined the 68,000 fans in the Lucas Oil Stadium to experience one of sport’s greatest spectacles.

The Build up

This year’s Super Bowl was held in the midwest city of Indianapolis and the choice of venue raised eyebrows across the US. It seemed a million miles away from the sunny climes of previous hosts in Florida, Texas and California.

However, at the end of the week-long festival of football, the Hoosier state emerged with thumbs-up all round. The city centre itself was transformed into a Super Bowl Village.

In the days leading up to the contest between the champions of the AFC and NFC, fans could meet the stars, play on pitches laid in the street and party away at a number of different venues.

A zip-wire 100 feet high allowed revellers to hurtle about 800 feet across the village.

Game Day

We parked less than a mile away from the stadium and saw virtually no traffic.

It was a far cry from the North Circular Road, although many pay $80 (£50) for the privilege.

The centre of town was pedestrianised and fans of both clubs happily mingled.

Although bars were open and busy, there was no hint of trouble and no boozed-up jousting.

New York and Boston – home of the Patriots – share perhaps the biggest sporting rivalry of any of the American cities but in the build-up to the match there was no hint of trouble.

Many groups were made up of fans from both sides who would go on to sit next to each other inside the Lucas Oil Stadium.

Restaurants charged regular prices and there were no queues. Stages were set up in the streets and live bands played to the masses.

Fans happily walked around with their tickets hanging round their necks on lanyards and there was no visible police presence.

At 4pm we made our way to the stadium and again saw no queues or congestion.

The Stadium

Built in 2008, the 70,000-seat Lucas Oil Stadium looks like a big bus station from the outside.

Inside there is not a bad seat in the house. The steep stands give fans the sense they are on top of the action and two giant screens ensure you never miss a hit.

Food and drink was expensive – $8 (£5) for a bratwurst and $11 (£7) for a beer. Fans lucky enough to get a ticket found cushions on their seats and a switchlight for the half-time show.

Entertainment

Two hours before kick-off a team of presenters were joined on the field by various NFL heroes who gave their predictions.

There were the inevitable cheer-offs and countdowns as kick-off approached.

At half-time Madonna took to the stage flanked by around 100 gladiators in a typically indulgent 12-minute set. She was joined on stage by a number of stars I’d never heard of but the rest of the stadium clearly had.

A giant operation then took place to clear the pitch for the start of the second half.

The Match

Super Bowls these days are often close-fought affairs and this was no different. You’d need an understanding of the game to really enjoy it and this was pure theatre.

A dropped catch from the Patriots Mr Reliable Wes Welker and an impeccable grab from the Giants’ Mario Manningham ultimately proved decisive in a game of inches. Fans were greeted with the bizarre sight of, with around a minute left, the Patriots ‘letting’ the Giants score a touchdown to go ahead.

If they hadn’t, the Giants would have run down the clock to set up a game-winning field goal as time expired. By allowing the TD, the Patriots gave star quarter-back Tom Brady a minute to pull of a miracle.

Unfortunately for me – as a Patriots fan– he couldn’t and the Giants took the glory.

The Press

From the moment you arrive in the ground you get the feeling this is not like covering your average Premier League match.

A sandwich box awaits on your seat and at the end of every quarter a statistics sheet is provided.

Downstairs there’s a restaurant you can go to at will and during the second quarter waitresses delivered hotdogs to your seat.

With five minutes to go you are led down to the locker rooms to wait for the players to come off the field. Imagine strolling into United’s inner sanctum at Old Trafford after they’ve just lost the Premier League title.

As if that was not enough, you’re then taken to a press conference where the players are grilled once more before the night is over.

Getting Away

Again there were no queues and within 20 minutes we had left Indianapolis behind. They know how to put on a show, this lot.